49ers are right to let free-agency frenzy pass

The huge deal Tampa Bay bestowed on former 49ers safety Dashon Goldson might come as a relief. No way the 49ers would ever approach that five-year, $41 million deal with $22 million guaranteed. First of all, the team doesn’t have that kind of cap space to makes such a contract possible and secondly, the 49ers likely wouldn’t spend that kind of money on a safety.

Other than quarterback, most of the money on good teams goes to players who play the edges – cornerbacks, offensive tackles, pass rushers and wide receivers (to a lesser extent). Exceptions are made for outstanding players. The current 49ers probably would have paid Ronnie Lott if he were 25 years younger and playing today, but Goldson is not Lott.

Nevertheless, the 49ers might come under criticism for not stepping up to pay tight end Delanie Walker (four years, $17.5 million, $8.6 million guaranteed), and nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga (three years, $12 million, $5 million guaranteed). But the three players mentioned don’t make sense for the 49ers at those prices.

Sopoaga is entering his 10th season and only played a third of the team’s snaps last season, and got off to a slow start last year. Walker is not a starter for the 49ers and the receiving opportunities for the second tight end is likely to be greatly reduced with the addition of free-agent wide receiver Anquan Boldin.

The 49ers are right to let the free-agent frenzy play out, and let other teams over pay.